Video: Students cheer, curse as teacher tries to stop classroom brawl

Video of a teacher attempting to break up a fight in her classroom isn’t doing any favors for an embattled high school in St. Petersburg, Fla.

No one helps as teacher tries to stop fight (Tampa Bay Times)

Gibbs High School has struggled over the years with poor performance and a rough reputation, the Tampa Bay Times reports. In 2013, Gibbs issued 76 out-of-school suspensions for fighting.

In the video, a teacher attempts to maintain control of her class as students egg on two female students who are yelling at each other. Eventually, the argument erupts into a full-on brawl as the two students punch and pull at each others hair as the teacher tries to break it up. All the while, classmates are cheering and cursing while the video records.

Since the video surfaced, both students are facing punishment and could be expelled. Local leaders and parents have expressed dismay at the video and that it represents one more bad mark on a school that is struggling to be better.

“What’s important to know is this (fight) is an isolated event at Gibbs High School and this doesn’t represent the excellent work happening,” Pinellas County Schools spokeswoman Melanie Marquez Parra said. “It’s unfortunate that people may see this and think not.”